It’s a development that will come as a relief for many: a ceasefire between Iran and the United States seemed to be holding, in spite of missile and drone attacks against vessels and an Emirati port on Monday.
Middle East War: US-Iran ceasefire appears to hold
A tanker, left, and a car carrier are anchored at sea in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, seen from the UAE, 1 May 2026
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On Monday, the US said it fired on Iranian forces and sank several small boats targeting civilian ships as it launched a bid to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is a strategic choke point for oil transport though which around 20% of the worlds oil normally passes.
The UAE meanwhile said it came under attack from Tehran for the first time since a fragile truce came into force in April.
Iran did not explicitly confirm or deny the attacks. However in a post on social media on Tuesday, the country’s foreign minister said both the US and UAE "should be wary of being dragged back into a quagmire."
Despite the mounting tensions, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the truce remains in effect despite the ongoing US blockade and some Iranian strikes.